teaching souls through the written word

Does the Christian life at times seem more than you can bear? May these thoughts from Hebrews chapter 12 encourage you!

Others have overcome.

“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us [the heroes of faith of Hebrews 11], let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us . . .” (v. 1).

They endured. So can we.

Jesus showed us how to endure.

“For consider Him who endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (v. 3).

Jesus suffered far more than we ever have or ever will. He endured. So can we.

Suffering makes us strong!

Our Father “disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness” (v. 10).

Suffering can have a refining effect on us—if we let it (Romans 5:3-5; James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 1:6-7).

So how are we to deal with affliction? Let’s expect it, accept it, and not reject it. We need it more than we realize. Someday we’ll look back and see how much we’ve grown!

Just think what we have to look forward to!

“. . . let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus . . . who for the joy set before Him endured the cross . . .” (vv. 1-2).

Jesus endured because He knew something wonderful lay ahead.

Focusing on the joy set before us helps make the painful present bearable.